Inadequate Erythropoietin Response to Anaemia in HIV Patients: Relationship to Serum Levels of Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Interleukin-6 and Their Soluble receptors

Severe anaemia is a frequent complication in advanced HIV infection. In our study we investigated the interaction between cytokine network, HIV infection and erythropoietin (Epo) response with increasing anaemia levels. No correlations could be established between circulating tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and any of the examined parameters. However, a negative correlation was found between haemoglobin values and soluble TNF receptor levels (sTNF-R-I: r  = −0.54; P  < 0.001; sTNF-R II: r  = −0.47; P  < 0.001) as well as interleukin-6 levels ( r  = −0.29; P  < 0.001). In contrast, no significant increase in log[Epo], counterbalancing haemoglobin decline and paralleling the rise in sTNF receptors, was found. In patients classified as stage III, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification, the erythropoietin response was significantly more impaired than in patients from CDC groups I and II ( P  < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that similar to its action in vitro , activation of the TNF/TNF-R system may impair erythropoietin production in HIV-associated anaemia. Due to the brief half-life of TNF-α, this activation is particularly reflected by elevations of soluble TNF receptor levels.     

Spatially and Temporally Regulated Modification of the Receptor-like Protein Tvrosine Phosphatase ζ/β isoforms with Keratan Sulphate in the Developing Chick Brain

Protein tyrosine phosphatase ζ (PTPζRPTPβ) is a proteoglycan-type receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase specifically expressed in the brain. In addition to the transmembrane form (PTPζ-A), the extracellular splice variant (PTPζ-S) occurs as a major soluble chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan in the brain. We prepared antibodies which specifically recognize PTPζ-A and -S, and analysed the carbohydrate structures on the two PTPζ isoforms in the developing chick brain. lmmunoprecipitation experiments using these antibodies revealed that almost all of the keratan sulphate recognized by a monoclonal antibody (5D4) was exclusively bound to PTPζ-A and PTPζ-S. Addition of keratan sulphate to these proteoglycans markedly increased from embryonic day (E) 11, in contrast to the addition of Le^X and HNK-1 carbohydrates, which gradually increased during development in accordance with expression of the core proteins, suggesting that keratan sulphate modification plays some specific roles. Moreover, at the early embryonic stage keratan sulphate was observed only in several restricted regions, especially at boundary regions such as the roof plate of the tectum, the zona limitans intrathalamica in the diencephalon, and the mesencephalon-metencephalon boundary. At the mesencephalon-metencephalon boundary, keratan sulphate modification of PTPζ isoforms was specifically observed from E3 to E6 on a ring of cells encircling the neural tube and their radially oriented processes, which were identified as radial glial fibres. This expression pattern of keratan sulphate spatiotemporally corresponded well to the formation of the fovea isthmi, a groove separating the mesencephalon from the metencephalon. These results suggest that carbohydrates including keratan sulphate on PTPζ isoforms play important roles in brain development by modulating the cell-cell and/or cell-substrate interactions mediated by these molecules.     

雌、孕激素对IL-6基因在子宫内膜表达的影响

为了进一步了解白介素－６（ＩＬ－６）在生殖过程中的作用，应用斑点杂交和原位杂交方法，研究ＩＬ－６在小鼠子宫内膜的基因表达和雌、孕激素对这种表达的影响。实验证明，正常动情前期子宫内膜间质细胞有ＩＬ－６ｃＲＮＡ基因表达，切除动物卵巢，即可消除这种表达。如给去卵巢动物２ｍｇ孕激素加１０ｎｇ雌激素或２０ｍｇ孕激素加１００ｎｇ雌激素，它们的光密度（ＩＯＤ）值分别可达到２．３和２．５。结果证明，子宫内膜间质细胞是产生细胞因子ＩＬ－６的主要细胞之一，并受卵巢激素的调控。     

Case Report: Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome Associated with Human Herpesvirus-6 Infection

We report a case of Gianotti-Crosti syndrome associated with human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection. An eight-month-old girl developed monomorphous papules on her cheeks, buttocks, and extremities after the subsidence of exanthema subitum. Viral antibody analysis confirmed primary HHV-6 infection. HHV-6 may be added to the list of causative agents of Gianotti-Crosti syndrome.     

Effects of accumbens DALA microinjections on brain stimulation reward and behavioral activation in intact and 6-OHDA treated rats

The effects of bilateral nucleus accumbens microinjections ofd-ala-met-enkephalinamide (DALA) were assessed in behavioral activation and lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation (LHSS) rate-frequency curve-shift paradigms in normal and accumbens 6-OHDA (4.0 µg) treated rats. Microinjections of DALA (2.5 µg/µl) in the behavioral activation paradigm had little effect on normal activity; however, DALA administered to 6-OHDA treated rats produced a significant overall increase in locomotion. The 6-OHDA DALA-induced locomotion effect peaked at 2 weeks after 6-OHDA treatment and then returned to baseline levels by week 5 posttreatment. Using LHSS, DALA tested over a range of doses (2.5, 5, 10, 20 µg/µl) displayed a weak biphasic reward effect only at the highest dose, which was characterized by an initial suppression followed by an elevation. DALA significantly depressed initial operant motor/performance in LHSS in a dose dependent fashion. Micro-injections of the normally ineffective low dose of DALA (2.5 µg/µl) following accumbens 6-OHDA treatment produced a significant LHSS reward decrease 2 weeks posttreatment, while LHSS motor/performance was relatively unaffected. Results are discussed in terms of opiate-dopamine and limbic-motor interactions.     

海南文昌汉族人群中两种葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶基因突变的研究

目的:分析海南文昌人群中葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶基因1376G→T、95A→G突变。方法:应用硝基四氮唑蓝定量法进行G6PD缺乏症的筛查,用等位基因特异PCR检测1376G→T、95A→G突变。结果:在358位海南文昌汉族人中,发现G6PD缺乏症患者20例,其中9例患者有1376G→T突变,3例患者有95A→G突变。结论:1376G→T、95A→G突变是文昌人群中常见的突变。     

1,6-二磷酸果糖治疗婴幼儿肺炎心衰疗效观察

应用脉冲多普勒超声心动图对３０例使用１，６－二磷酸果糖的肺炎心衰患儿进行心室舒缩功能指标的观测，并以２０例常规治疗的心衰患儿及２０例正常儿为对照组，评价１，６－二磷酸果糖的疗效。结果表明，１，６－二磷酸果糖能明显改善ＰＥＰ、ＰＥＰ／ＥＴ、ＰＥＰ／Ｒ－Ｒ、ＦＶＩ和ＳＶ等心室收缩功能指标及ＰＦＶＥ、Ｅ／Ａ、ＰＦＶＡ等心室舒张功能指标，使心功能恢复正常。１，６－二磷酸果糖对肺炎心衰引起的心肌缺血、缺氧有保护作用。     

Gingival crevicular fluid IL-8: correlation with local IL-1β levels and patient estrogen status

Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) IL-8 and IL-1,1β levels were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Associations between IL-8 and IL-1β GCF levels, and between these cytokines and patient estrogen status were evaluated. IL-8 and IL-1β were detected more frequently and in higher amounts/30 s GCF sample in estrogen-deficient patients than in estrogensufficient patients. IL-8 and IL-1β GCF levels were significantly correlated. These lindings suggest that GCF IL-8 levels are associated with patient estrogen status and local IL-1β concentrations.     

Effects of mycophenolic acid on IL-6 expression of human renal proximal and distal tubular cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine which regulates immune responses and host defence mechanisms. IL-6 has been found to be increased in certain inflammatory conditions of the kidney, in which tubular epithelial cells play a pivotal role. Human renal tubular cells express IL-6. Until now no data about the effect of the immunosuppressant drug mycophenolic acid (MPA) on IL-6 expression were available. METHODS: Proximal and distal tubular epithelial cells (PTC/DTC) have been isolated immunomagnetically. Confluent monolayers were stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta; 25 U/ml), IL-1beta+ MPA (0.25-50 micro M) or MPA alone for 48 h. Release of IL-6 protein into the supernatant was evaluated with an enzyme immunoassay, IL-6 mRNA expression was evaluated using the Quantikine mRNA kit. RESULTS: After IL-1beta stimulation, a highly significant 2.6- (PTC) and 3.8-fold (DTC) upregulation of IL-6 expression was detectable. IL-6 mRNA was upregulated by IL-1beta [1.57- (PTC) and 2.03-fold (DTC)]. MPA inhibited this cytokine-induced IL-6 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with the lowest MPA concentration had no effect on the stimulated upregulation, whereas all higher doses significantly decreased IL-6 expression. Dexamethasone significantly inhibited the cytokine-induced IL-6 protein release in PTC, but not in DTC. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we demonstrated for the first time an inhibitory effect of MPA on the stimulated IL-6 expression of renal tubular epithelial cells. In contrast to older data, which showed a synergistic upregulation of the expression of a CC-chemokine by a combination of cytokines and MPA, in the present study we could demonstrate an immunosuppressive effect of MPA on the expression of an important cytokine.